Build June 2016

Corinthia Hotels Announces New Luxury Hotel in Dubai Corinthia Hotels has signed agreements with UAE-based Meydan Group to provide technical services and manage a luxury beachfront resort under construction in Dubai.

2016 Infrastructure Innovator of the Year, the UK: Smart GreenTech Solutions

Also in this month’s issue...

Precision Engineer of the Month – A One Turning We speak to Director and Founder, Mr Harbinder Singh Kundi, about what makes his company stand out from the rest.

Build’s 2016 Construction Top 50 We spoke to Arzum Group Director, Mr Salah Kamel, who provided us with a powerful insight into his business and shared his strategy to achieve great success.

Build Magazine: June 2016

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Editor’s Letter

Welcome to this month’s edition of Build Magazine.

In this issue we discover how the leading industry innovators and businessmen acquire an effective strategy to develop and form a successful firm.

Our Special Features this month include, Pierre Olivier of Smart Greentech Solutions Limited, giving Build a powerful insight into the company’s objectives and its running projects. Harbinder Kundi shares how he has maintained a successful business, running for over the 35 years.

Also as part of this issue we have a Top 50 Construction Guide that highlights some of the most professional and skilled businesses in the industry.

In other features we look at how 3D engineering is helping the construction business develop innovative solutions and how street furniture has taken a leap of progression in recent times alongside other powerful articles.

I hope that you enjoy reading through this issue.

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Contents 4. News Special Features 8. Lewis Visuals 10. Cooley Construction Inc. 12. Wilkinsons 14. BIM-DM, BIM Design & Modelling 16. Croft Structural Engineers 18. Muller & Muller, Ltd. 20. Barclay Firth 22. A One Turning 24. Unit 1 Architects 26. Smart GreenTech Solutions 28. Hanson Services Ltd 2016 Construction Top 50 32. 2016 Construction Top 50 Directory 34. Arzum Group 36. Avalon 38. Certass Limited 40. KIS Finance Inside the Industry 46. Bluesky’s 3D Laser Maps Inform BIM Projects 48. Building Information Modelling – James Kelway Eco Building 52. Tropicana Eco Homes Real Estate 56. Building Expertise in Challenging Environments 60. Southwark Council Completes over 100 New Council Homes This Summer as Part of 11,000 New Homes Pledge 62. As High-Rise Residential Developments Reach New Heights, What Have We Learned from the Failed Tower-Block?

66. Denver Ranked Best City for Tech Professionals Architecture 70. Molofunctional Prototypes Made of Kebony at Venice Biennale Construction 74. Can the Construction Industry Afford to Continue to Be So Exclusive?

76. Five in Demand Construction Roles Facing Skills Shortages Products & Innovation 80. The Future of City Planning: Intelligent Street Furniture Build Magazine

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News Corinthia Hotels announces new luxury hotel in Dubai Corinthia Hotels has signed agreements with UAE-based Meydan Group to provide technical services and manage a luxury beachfront resort under construction in Dubai.

The luxury hotel and residences is the latest in a series of mega developments being undertaken by Meydan Group, which include large scale mixed-use urban and leisure developments across various prime locations in Dubai. Corinthia and Meydan Group have entered into a strategic relationship, with Corinthia engaged to support the design development and operate the iconic resort property being built on the site of the former Meydan Beach Club.

The Corinthia at Meydan Beach, as the hotel and residences will be known, will comprise 300 bedrooms and 60 high-end serviced apartments when it opens for business in 2019. Its grand architecture features a stepped podium wrapping around lavish, landscaped pools and gardens cascading onto the beach, and offers extensive indoor and outdoor leisure and dining facilities, a luxury Spa, a club and banqueting amenities. A 55-storey tower comprising residential apartments, bedrooms, suites and entertainment zones will sit atop one side of the podium, commanding views of some of the most spectacular sights in Dubai, including the Palm Island and the Dubai Eye under development across the waters.

Internationally-renowned American design professionals AE7, who have over 40 years’ experience in the Middle East, are the appointed architects and designers.

Meydan Board Director Mohammed Al Shehhi said: ‘’We are very happy to have appointed Corinthia to operate our new luxury hotel under construction at Meydan Beach. Our core business is the global management of horse racing, as well as large scale mixed use real estate developments in Dubai. With Corinthia as our hospitality partner, we continue to complement our array of capabilities in ensuring world class delivery of products and services, with our flagship beachside development as a starting point.”

Corinthia chairman Alfred Pisani said: “We are immensely proud of our association with Meydan and of our first Corinthia Hotel in Dubai. The energy, vision and quality of resources assembled for this project by Meydan, and now including Corinthia, will ensure this will be another landmark milestone for us, and for Dubai.”

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The UK’s top builders honoured by NHBC Winners of NHBC’s Pride in the Job 2016 awards have been honoured for their dedication to building homes of outstanding quality in the first round of the competition.

“For 36 years, our Pride in the Job Awards have played a pivotal role in NHBC’s work to raise standards across the industry through the celebration and sharing of best practice.

NHBC (National House-Building Council), the UK’s leading home warranty and insurance provider, has revealed the names of the Quality Award winners the UK’s 445 best site managers, placing them at the very top of their profession.

“Pride in the Job rewards those site managers who produce the best new homes which are built and finished to the highest possible standard. Most importantly, homeowners who buy a Pride in the Job award-winning home benefit from a high quality product.

Now in its 36th year – Pride in the Job celebrates the exceptional contribution site managers make in creating homes of outstanding quality. As well as undergoing spot checks on the day-to day running of the sites, each site manager is assessed across 37 areas of site management, including their technical knowledge, consistency in the build process and the quality controls they have in place.

“It’s no surprise that our data shows Pride in the Job winning sites have higher levels of customer satisfaction as these homes are without doubt among the best the UK has to offer.

“On behalf of everyone at NHBC, I would like to congratulate them on this wonderful achievement.”

With more than 16,000 site managers competing for the awards, this year’s Quality Award winners have been hand-picked for their excellent standards on site.

As part of the year-long judging process, the Quality Award winners will now be shortlisted for Seals of Excellence and Regional titles which will be revealed in the autumn.

Commenting on the Awards, Mike Quinton, Chief Executive of NHBC, said: “Congratulations to all the 2016 Quality Award winners - the strength of this year’s entries coupled with the judges’ long and hard deliberations over selecting 445 winners from 16,000 site managers should give great pride to them all and their teams.

The regional winners will then go forward to compete for the national Supreme Winner title in their category at the Pride in the Job Gala, taking place in London in January.

Full list of winners available here

Decorean reinforce sustainability pledge with Planet Mark ™ Sustainability Certificate 27th June 2016 - Decorean, one of the fastest growing construction companies in and around London has received The Planet Mark ™ Sustainability Certificate, highlighting its commitment to “continuous improvement in sustainability in its business operations by measuring and reducing its carbon footprint and engaging its stakeholders”.

The award, which demonstrates Decorean’s commitment to engage with employers, suppliers and customers to encourage wider sustainability action, reinforces Decorean’s commitment to its sustainability pledge.

Shraga Stern, Director of Decorean said: “Sustainability is high on our agenda and demonstrates the strides we are continuing to make in our commitment to our pledge.

Ultimately, we understand the need to deliver sustainable and long term change.”

The Planet Mark ™, in partnership with the Eden Project, is a sustainability certification provided by Planet First.

It is achieved by: • Measuring carbon footprint and demonstrating reductions in carbon emissions • Engaging employees and suppliers in sustainability to enable continued improvement • Communicating successes to customers and stakeholders

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Special Features

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BUILD’s Most Innovative Designers of 2016

In 2009, Genevieve Wells was made redundant from her job. Despite this setback, she took the initiative to start up her own company, Lewis Visuals, which has gone from strength to strength, and now provides expert architectural services throughout Surrey and beyond. We spoke to her to find out more.

Build’s Most Innovative Designers in the UK 2016 Build’s Best Design and Construction Company in Surrey 2016 BEFA’s Best Female Entrepreneur in Europe and the Middle East 2016 Build’s Best Design and Construction Company in Surrey 2015 WICE Best Female Architectural Technologist in Europe 2015 FSB’s Best Business Person of the Year in Surrey 2015

Like a lot of other successful companies, we have had to overcome a lot of adversity to get to where we are today. It was being made redundant in 2009 that I decided to be in charge of my own destiny and start up my business. As many architectural businesses needed to keep their costs down, I saw a gap in the market for part time freelance services.

During the first year of business, the majority of my income came from freelancing for other companies and I then gradually built up my own private client database through reputation and referrals.

In terms of my qualifications, I graduated in Interior Architecture at the Farnham University of Creative Arts in 2005. Whilst studying, I worked part time for several local architects to develop my CAD skills and put me ahead of my peers once I had graduated.

For two years, I worked as an Interior designer specialising in the office, retail and leisure sector. The projects ranged from Pizza Express, Stringfellows and a “Grand Design” project and have covered 150 residential units in a single development to one off luxury 9000 sq ft residential dwellings. Having learnt the twin disciplines of interior design and architecture, I have been able to appreciate the external aesthetic quality of architecture, but also how internal surroundings benefit a person’s lifestyle.

I then changed paths to focus on residential architecture. Within a year, I had established a good reputation as an architectural technician which lead to being head hunted four times. Eventually I accepted a role as a technical coordinator for Redrow Homes.

This opened up many avenues and contacts for the future. Despite the redundancy, straight away I was offered a position as a CAD technician at MCA working on high end residential houses. It was my last and best employer that helped me over the last seven years establish my own business, pass on leads and support me in becoming a Chartered Architectural Technologist. I am now an Assessor and Secretary for the South East Region of CIAT (my Professional Board).

Today, our company offers a highly integrated approach to architectural design, which combines all of the elements involved, ranging from the conception to the completion of each project. Moreover, the type of projects we cover go right across the spectrum, ranging from individual residential dwellings to entire housing developments of 200 units at any one time.

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Alongside this expertise, Lewis Visuals understands the local planning policies to achieve an excellent (near 100%) success rate with planning applications. In this way we ensure our clients receive excellent value for money.

Above all, our company vision and mission is ‘transforming lives through design’. Our home is our sanctuary, and people no longer want to have separate rooms. We understand that everyone’s time is precious and they want to spend that time together. As such, we take the time to understand our clients work, personal and family needs and translate those needs into a design to improve their lifestyle.

Of course, this can be easier said than done.

We achieve this by gathering comprehensive briefs from our clients to understand their requirements and give them design options to consider. Our solutions are cost effective and are the result of extensive technical knowledge to meet the latest building regulation standards combined with the most innovative and sustainable products on the market.

Typically, a lot of our work is the renovation and extension of existing properties and dwellings for the general public. These range from major extensions and refurbishments to large properties, the modest single storey extension, enlarging a kitchen or creating an ‘open living’ environment. On the other side of the business, Lewis Visuals also works with larger developers creating housing designs and construction packages for large luxury one off houses to developments of up to 200 units at any one time.

Alongside our integrated approach, another differentiating factor of our is our sales and marketing process, which is designed around the ActionCOACH Five Ways. The benefits from this have been enormous, where the leads over the last year have increased fourfold. Further, we have introduced formal systems into the business to speed up our processes and document our sales and marketing activities. Through measuring these, we are now able to make incremental improvements to them.

Ultimately, the key factor in our success has been our team, who are enthusiastic, believe in our vision, and have all studied hard to earn their qualifications in Construction Technology. The icing on the cake is that the success of the business has enabled me to buy a property for myself, and have my own dream home!

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Name: Genevieve Wells Company: Lewis Visuals Architectural Design Web: www.lewisvisuals.co.uk Address: Pottery Ln, Wrecclesham, Farnham GU10 4NE Phone: 01252 714985

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Special Feature

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The USA’s Heavy Construction Innovators

Cooley Construction Inc. is a grading and paving specialist with a focus on offering a professional service. We invited President Ben Cooley and Vice President Ron Walker to tell us more.

Cooley Construction Inc. is a third generation family owned company specializing in all phases of grading, paving and sealcoating.

We serve both the public & private sector concentrating on construction and improvements for streets, highways, military, and joint civil projects.

As a business we aim to provide clients with the highest quality service on the market.

Pride, professionalism, and responsibility are the hallmarks of our success. Cooley Construction’s founding fathers established the guidelines that have shaped the basic principles which the third generation continues to adhere to today. We firmly believe that our time-tested philosophy of doing each job right the first time and providing good value to our customers is the true secret of our success. Cooley Construction Inc. prides itself in its work, reliability, stability, safety, and above all, customer satisfaction.

In order to achieve this, we take an old fashioned, hands on approach to client service, supporting our customers throughout the project. We answer the phone whenever a client calls and we visit and manage every job everyday as this is the only way to control the company’s quality and namesake.

This approach is crucial, as our founding fathers laid into us the same groundwork that built the backbone of this company: honesty, integrity, reliability and quality, all of which are qualities that are getting increasingly difficult to find in this modern, technology dependant age.

Within the wider construction industry, there is currently a slight improvement in market conditions, which we are hoping will be long term so that the industry will slowly be able to build itself up following the many issues it has had over the years, including the 2008 financial crisis.

Looking ahead, we are keen to grow as a business in a controlled manner so that we can maintain our hallmarks: quality and honesty. In addition, we are keen to continue adapting to the latest developments in the market. We believe that drone surveying, mapping and housing will be key in the coming years, and are eager to work with our clients to adapt around these developments and better support them in this ever evolving market.

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Company: Cooley Construction Inc. Name: Ben Cooley, President & Ron Walker, Vice President Email: bcooley@cooleyconstruction.net rwalker@cooleyconstruction.net Website: www.cooleyconstruction.net Address: 17525 Eucalyptus St Suite G Hesperia Ca.92345 Phone: 760 948-8400

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Special Feature

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Soaring land and property prices in the Capital have had a dramatic and uplifting effect on the Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire area and it now boasts one of the fastest growing economies in the region.

Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire are among the UK’s leading areas of economic growth and development.

Part of the area’s appeal is its fantastic infrastruction, amenities and affordability.

Over the last few years, property developers, businesses and residential buyers have looked to the Milton Keynes area as a prime location to live, work and invest.

A common acronym in the world of property development is ‘NIMBY’ meaning ‘not in my back yard’ but weigh that against the dire need to build more homes and you could have a potential battleground.

However ‘could’ is the crucial word.

Knowledge is everything when it comes to sourcing prime locations for development and negotiating with planners and local councils.

This is an area in which Wilkinsons have been actively involved for many decades and as well as promoting the area’s appeal to corporate property developers they have recently been instrumental in helping to secure 200 acres for much needed residential property development.

All new developments come with their own set of hurdles to cross but local knowledge goes a long way in helping developers cross these barriers. This is something Wilkinsons excel in and work closely with both corporate developers and builders to ensure projects run smoothly and with as little down time as possible.

As one of Buckinghamshire’s most well established and leading property experts, Wilkinsons are ideally positioned to project manage rural schemes and conversions such as barn and agricultural redevelopments. By providing well informed and comprehensive advice and assistance in all aspects from initial sourcing, local area plans and planning permission, right through to completion and sale, the Wilkinsons team have developed a close working relationship with some of the country’s most prolific building and construction firms.

Rural, equestrian and agricultural acquisitions and sales are another area of Wilkinsons expertise and with a myriad of planning restrictions and ties to negotiate, their

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experience in this field has proven invaluable to vendors, buyers and developers.

As more and more land owners and farmers look to diversify, Wilkinsons’ unparalleled understanding of the legal complexities has created a significant increase in demand for their services and helped create fantastic opportunities for vendors, buyers and developers alike.

Without a doubt, two of the key factors in Wilkinsons’ success has been their outstanding team spirit and communication skills. It’s hardly surprising that these are areas in which they excel as Wilkinsons is a family run firm with two generations taking an active role in the business.

Founded by father and son team of respected and accomplished industry high fliers, John and Simon Wilkinson first opened their doors in 1992.

This was a perfect scenario for both John and Simon as they were now free from the shackles of corporate estate agency practice, which frustratingly had prevented them from providing the kind of complete and comprehensive service they knew their clients needed and deserved.

Leaping forward to 2016 from the initial anxious days and weeks when they first set up their new business, it’s easy to see that they were right to make that giant leap of faith.

Like trekking in the Andes with a Sherpa, developers and builders need local knowledge and experienced guidance to successfully negotiate the terrain. John, Simon and the fantastic team they’ve put together, provide their clients with precisely that uniquely high level of personal service.

The future expansion and development of Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire’s property industry certainly looks like it couldn’t be in safer hands.

For more information about Wilkinsons, visit them at http://www.qualityhomes.co.uk/ index.html

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Company: Wilkinsons Web Address: www.qualityhomes.co.uk Telephone: +44 1525 382 065

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Special Feature

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Born out of our client’s needs, BIMDM was established to provide 21st century tools for 21st century construction. BIM-DM offers expertise and assistance in critical fields of BIM, construction forensics, construction simulation and analysis. In an everchanging landscape of innovation driven by passion BIM-DM brings hi-tech construction to their clients. We invited Aleksandar Stavrevski to talk us through BIM-DM’s path so far.

Construction today is driven by technology and innovation. The battle for productivity requires a relevant and competent basis for making right decisions at the right time. Technology underpins both productivity and decision making process making it more predictable and controllable. Through BIM’s whole new set of tools, controls and analysis becomes available and this is where BIM-DM finds its place, making technology accessible throughout construction process.

We produce powerful 3D Visualisations to clearly communicate our client’s strategy, philosophy and objectives. Our technologies enable quicker and more accurate decision making, based on simulations of construction works programmes, construction methods and proposed technologies.

Our team of professionals, all of them with strong construction credentials, are specialists in the areas of BIM, 3D Modelling and construction sequencing. This makes us the ideal partner for anyone preparing phasing or sequencing information for tendering, construction, post construction reviews and forensic investigations.

BIM-DM is proud to have a diverse portfolio encompassing all sectors of construction, civil engineering, fit-out and design. We like challenges, and we strive to overcome them, to win and deliver.

At BIM Design & Modelling Ltd, we are able to provide a complete BIM management service for your company. We will provide a 3D model tailored to your requirements, provide cost management, programming and administrative resources in order to create, manage and implement BIM with related protocols specific to your companies’ requirements. We can provide various visualisations, simulations and animations for full client presentations enabling analysis and methodology testing. We will provide interior and exterior photo renderings, we will apply and test a selection of finishes of our clients’ choice. We will also be happy to undertake their Point Cloud surveys and incorporate them into our 3D models.

We are happy to create 3D models based on 2D Drawings, sketches, pdfs and so on. In other words, we have the ability to create 3D content from practically anything. This flexibility in return allows us to work with companies of any size.

Another key area of our business is the rapid development and delivery of 3D Models for BIM, construction simulation, construction sequencing and visualisation, animation, method statement works simulations and related content.

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BIM-DM will create the reality our client’s desire.

We provide the pure power of visual expression at your fingertips. There are virtually no limits.

If a client can conceive it, we will be happy to 3D model it.

Clients can test their design concepts or simulate their project in 3D. Benefit from competitive advantage in knowing your project inside out. Possibilities are endless.

Modelled to required or client specified LOD (Level of Detail), we will be happy to create 3D content for a variety of projects including: visualisation and project presentation; Construction project phasing and sequencing; interior design and visualisation; exteriors and architectural finishes; complex cut and fill analysis; complex cut and fill analysis; 3d laser scanning and point cloud surveys; and logistics projects.

BIM-DM will produce BIM models to support client’s internal processes of commercial and technical decision making and help with: BIM protocols; planning, programming & sequencing; cost and resources management; and admin resources.

The firm also supports clients to facilitate their ideas and test their construction concepts. A construction programme can be shown progressing in a 3D environment, demonstrating the spatial consequences that will follow the construction process.

There is probably no better way to ensure that a programme and the construction methods proposed are valid and that the construction sequence for a project is logical.

Complexity of structures is no longer an issue when it comes to clash analysis, complex cut and fill and even ground 3d modelling. By assembling complex models where different trades clash, testing detailed solutions in visual space concepts will highlight potential problems. This is the point where all the effort in assembling 3D Models and BIM validate the approach. If properly utilised, these techniques will save clients’ money and lower the risk during project execution.

From our state of the art offices in Sevenoaks, Kent, we have created an environment for our teams to nurture and flourish their creativity, providing the highest of quality for your company.

Ultimately our clients’ high standards and criteria are implemented across all 3D and other content we create to ensure they receive an outcome which exactly meets their needs.

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Company: BIM-DM, BIM Design & Modelling Address: Cricketts farm, Borough Green Road, Inghtam, Kent, TN15 9GB E-mail: enquiries@bim-dm.co.uk Phone: 07920123345 Website: www.bim-dm.co.uk

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Special Feature

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Croft Structural Engineers is a vibrant, growing practice of young professionals. We invited Phil Henry to provide us with an overview of the company and its service offering.

Croft was established by Christopher Tomlin in 2004 and has since grown with demand and now employs 14 engineers. Whilst the recession had a huge impact on the Construction industry; Croft continued to invest in its marketing, keeping up-to-date with technological advances and promoting the development of its Structural Engineers to ensure that the company was well positioned to survive the recession.

Since inception the firm has adapted to the changes in the economic climate, further developing its subterranean developments at a time when expensive house prices resulted in people considering underground developments and other renovations.

Phil explains the firm’s service offering and how this helps it to achieve its overall aim.

“As a design led practice, our principle aim is to work to improve the ‘built’ environment.

The practice is based in South London with the majority of projects within the M25, and a variety of other projects around the UK and internationally.

“In order to achieve our aim we adopt a holistic approach by providing the best design solutions to meet our clients’ needs.

Before any structural design is completed the brief is reviewed with our clients, site visits and inspections are undertaken, structural calculations are defined for all elements, and only then are the drawings produced.”

Being based in London and surrounded by historic buildings, the team at Croft has gained significant expertise in the renovation of historic period properties and are leaders in the field of renovation. Additionally, as a result of this demand Croft has further developed its Temporary Works design. The company has a number of specialist engineers who have completed Temporary works training and received certification as Temporary Works Engineers. Phil provides an example of the firm’s work in this area, outlining the challenges the team faced and how it worked tirelessly to overcome them.

“A good example of a Temporary Works project we have recently undertaken is Victoria Road, a substantial Victorian property in the heart of Kensington that we provided the ground works and superstructure Temporary Works design.

The project required the old Victorian property to be refurbished and a new basement 7m deep to be placed around the entire site.

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“Around the perimeter secant piled wall was used. These were drilled around the perimeter of the site 20m deep forming a reinforced concrete box around the perimeter of the building. The area inside the piled wall can then be safely excavated.

“The site was known to have a number of water problems, so the team at Croft researched into the options for ground stabilisation. The secant piled wall did a good job of holding most of the water out. However, it was not possible to pile along the party wall line. The option proposed was to use polymer injection. This is a known technique but generally used around blown pipes in basements. Croft took this concept and developed it to act as a water blocker to the water under the party wall.

“By offering Temporary Works services we are able to ensure that clients and contractors can keep the design with one consultant, and often one engineer in the company, reducing the delays and confusion. In the basement arena the level of information at Planning has significantly increased: Croft now has a strong skill base in helping architects with the information at planning (BIA’s and CMS’s).

This highlights our dedication to maintaining excellence in every aspect of the work we do.”

Ultimately, the construction industry has never been short of innovative construction procedures and materials, and according to Phil the future for both the firm and the market looks promising, with developments in modular construction and speed of construction set to provide the firm with opportunities for growth.

“Over the next 12 months we expect to see further growth in the basement construction field and continued development of 3D modelling and BIM integration. We have a dedicated team trained in 3D modelling and BIM integration and it is our intention to ensure all the engineers are trained in this area within the coming year. It will be interesting to see how 3D printing develops within the industry, both with modelling and with full-sized construction techniques.”

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Company: Croft Structural Engineers Name: Phil Henry Email: phenry@croftse.co.uk Web Address: www.croftse.co.uk Address: Clockshop Mews, Rear of 60 Saxon Road, London, SE25 5EH Telephone: 020 8684 4744

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Ones to Watch for 2016: Construction USA

Founded in 1984, Muller & Muller (M+M), has been providing full architectural services for over 30 years.

We profile this extraordinary firm and provide a unique insight into its latest project, The Navy Pier Flyover.

M+M is a certified WBE/DBE, and work with a variety of clients across a range of project sectors including transportation, recreation, and education, planning, industrial, municipal, retail, and commercial.

The firm’s latest project is the Navy Pier Flyover, a new elevated bike path. Born out of the need for safer passage on the lakefront trail, the new portion of the Lakefront Trail, and Navy Pier Flyover has become one of the most anticipated public space projects in the City of Chicago. As of 2015 the 18-mile-long Lakefront Bike Trail received 30,000 users per day during the summer, and anywhere between 1,200 and 1,600 bikes per hour.

Currently, this portion of the path is where bikers, pedestrians, and tourists all converge on a space no wider than the average city sidewalk, and in some cases, with no railings to separate them from the cars and buses on Lower Lake Shore Drive.

The solution to this situation has become a new ½ mile long section of the Lakefront Bike Trail, known as Navy Pier Flyover. The new elevated bike path will provide bikers, joggers, and the general public a safe path through the extremely congested portion of Chicago’s heavily used Lakefront. The path is raised above construction of a distinctive spine structure. For about half a mile the structure weaves between and over many obstacles, including buildings, roads, and a canal. Once all phases are completed, the dedicated path will extend from the Chicago River Bridge, to Jane Addams Park.

The development of this section of the trail has been very important to the City, the entrance to the Chicago River being the site of the founding of Chicago, and the reason of the City spreading from this point. The Chicago River has fuelled the City’s growth, and generated immense innovation in structural design and urban planning for over 180 years. To this day the Chicago Lakefront remains the City’s symbolic “Front Door”.

Given how important the Lake Front is to the City, and the fact that this portion of the trail is in the densest neighbourhood, visited by tens of thousands of people a day, we knew that whatever structure was proposed for this landscape needed careful thought, and intent. Various frames, ribs, and columns were given consideration in this initial design process, and by the end, a rib-like structure supported off a central linear tube, which

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would snake through this dense urban environment, was the structure chosen to move forward with. When assessing column structures, our team landed on an elegantly split oval shape, with the split of the oval being lit at night. Interestingly, this shape is now being compared to the Walking Figures, a sculpture installation in south Grant Park.

There were many other important pieces of the flyover to develop, not the least of which is the system of railings and enclosures. The railing posts spring form the deck structure at 8 foot intervals to create a unified rhythmic composition. They are composed of a pair of 1” steel plates cut to a chevron shape that leans in toward the path. The plates support a system of stainless steel cables forming the safety guard. The cables are visually light and with give an elegant shimmer in the sun.

The posts also support a triplet of steel tubes which accent the path top but are also meant to guide a wayward bike away from the edge of the path.

The inward cant of the railing is designed to discourage climbing. We have also integrated functional and decorative lighting into the path railing, eliminating the need for light poles, which would both waste space, and add needless light pollution to an already densely lit urban area. Also integrated with the railing system is an extensive way finding and traffic control signage system.

Information includes directions, warnings and information on local landmarks and common destinations. The project wayfinding system is also integrated far beyond the flyover project to inform people early on the best path to use for their destination. This is an important feature which will guide people away from places they don’t really want to be, hopefully reducing congestion in certain areas.

Ultimately M+M was selected for this prestigious project because of their professionalism, dedicated staff and focus on quality and detail.

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Company: Muller & Muller, Ltd. Name: Cate Muller Email: cemuller@muller2.com Web Address: www.muller2.com Address: 700 N. Sangamon, Chicago, IL 60642 Telephone: 312-432-4180

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The UK’s Property Developers to Watch for 2016

Starting a residential property development company in 2008 may seem like a quite a daunting task to undertake. However, Barclay Firth managed to overcome the many obstacles provided by the recession, and have continued to thrive as the UK property market has gone from strength to strength. We spoke to Neil Hamilton, founder of the company, to find out the secret behind their success.

Barclay Firth was a company that I started single-handedly. Looking back, I feel that I had a lot to learn back then, but with each new project we persevered and pulled through, which thankfully has allowed us to become the successful business we are today.

Our work as a residential property developer spans across a number of different areas, ranging from renovations and alterations of old buildings to the design and build of new homes. As well as working on our own projects, we have also worked on behalf of other people, in areas such as maintenance and repairs to buildings and other structures.

For example, in the UK we experienced some pretty bad flooding over the Christmas period and we were recommended by local authorities for repairs to local infrastructure.

Our first project was undertaken at a very interesting time in late 2008, which was at the very tail end of the lending boom. For this project, we received a complex loan agreement from a local building society, which would have been extremely difficult to achieve six months down the line when lending basically dried up.

As you can imagine, for the next few years it was extremely difficult to get funding. In 2011 things started to move forward, but mainly for the South of England. As a Yorkshire based company, we didn’t experience any significant recovery before 2013. Fast forward to 2016, banks are now a lot keener to lend and there is a lot more competition in the industry which will ultimately benefit our business.

Although we are a small business, we believe that the unique structure of our company is what allows us to compete with the major property development companies in the UK. We understand that we are going up against some very established brands, so we often undertake our own projects as principal contractor where we buy the site and employ subcontractors directly. Through this process, we hand pick our own workforce and have a network of contacts that allow us to operate in a very efficient manner.

As such, we have a very tight knit team that we work with on each project. This covers all levels of the business, including architects, engineers, solicitors etc. Since our inception, we have worked very hard towards building relationships with people we trust, and this has ultimately allowed us to achieve some pretty significant savings for both ourselves and our clients.

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Furthermore, we don’t have a top down management structure, and I have a very hands-on approach to my job where I regularly keep in close contact with our contractors and clients. Business managers have to put the hours in themselves before employing people when it isn’t necessary. I believe that this type of approach has allowed us to become the highly efficient and streamlined business we are today.

In terms of staff, we have a very low turnover rate, and this is because we invest heavily in each and every one of them. We understand that they are people who have families and mortgages and aspirations of their own, so we help them to become more experienced and competent, which we will inevitably be rewarded for in the high quality work they do.

Despite the small stature of our company, we do of course hope to grow our business.

At the moment we are putting a lot more emphasis on marketing and spreading the word about the high quality work that we do. It is the nature of business we are in that growth is something that can happen exponentially.

While there can be stagnant periods, there are times where we have multiple opportunities that come along in quick succession. We are experiencing the latter at the moment, and are just completing the construction of five houses in Huddersfield before commencing two larger development sites in West Yorkshire which we have secured during 2016. This has been the catalyst for us to grow and develop our business even further.

Alongside the continued growth of our business, we are also careful not to work beyond our capacity or to compromise the high quality of what we provide. With this in mind, we intend to grow at a manageable pace and to stick to the tried and tested formula which has served us so well.

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Name: Neil Hamilton Company: Barclay Firth Email: Neil.Hamilton@barclayfirth.com Web: www.barclayfirth.com Address: Ground Floor, Riverside Mills Saddleworth Road, Elland West Yorkshire, HX5 0RY Telephone: 01422 372806

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Special Feature

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Precision Engineer of the Month

Coventry-based A One Turning is a precision engineering firm, providing a range of specialist manufacturer of fasteners.

The small family-run business was initially incepted in 1980 by Mr Harbinder Singh Kundi and has gone from strength to strength over the last 35 years. It is now renowned for producing high quality CNC machined components, as well as holding a long track record for being a specialist manufacturer of non-standard and specialised industrial fasteners to a variety of market sectors.

BUILD speaks to Director and Founder, Mr Harbinder Singh Kundi, about what makes his company stand out from the rest.

Mr Kundi tells us more about the firm and how it has weathered the storm of economic turbulence.

“We have been established since the early eighties,” he begins. “Over this time, we have gone through several recessions, but we have managed to survive due to the fact that we are a family-owned firm. This means we are able to make fast and variable adjustments in the day-to-day running of the company.”

The company is proud of its reputation for producing high-quality components using a variety of materials, including brass, copper, uPVC, acetal, dilrin, stainless steel, and more exotic metals such as durehete, duplex and tuflon.

Mr Kundi explains how A One Turning maintains a full complement of calibrated inspection equipment, such as surface tables, height and dial gauges, micrometers and vernires.

“We are BS EN ISO9001:2000 approved,” he states proudly, “thus ensuring maintenance of our high work standards. These standards allow full tractability of material and processes, and give complete satisfaction to our clients.

“We are totally committed to quality and meeting agreed delivery schedules,” Mr Kundi continues. “We are also geared to manufacture prototype, reverse engineered and one-off components, as well as production work.”

It’s not simply the high standard of work that A One Turning has become synonymous with over the years, the firm is also committed to providing the highest levels of customer service possible to continually ensure the best possible outcome.

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“When we have a new client, first of all we introduce ourselves and establish the client’s requirements,” Mr Kundi states. “If there any queries or questions we would act quickly to assist the client and make them feel as comfortable as possible.

“If a client has a problem, we would go and see them and assist if there is any way we are able to resolve the problem with the requirement. Clients come first and they always receive our best care.”

Acquiring new clients is not always a straight forward process, and sometimes the demands of clients are a little more complex. Mr Kundi explains just how much work goes into some of A One Turning’s more challenging projects.

“We often assist clients in producing components and parts that have no drawings at all, but may be simply broken or worn out.

This can be tricky, but we tackle this by first establishing the size, material and any other processes required by the enquiring clients, as well as where the part is used and what it is used for. From this information we can then sketch the part and manufacture and supply the part to our client.”

Mr Kundi puts the company’s success down to the fact that it is a small and family-owned firm and able to implement changes and processes fast to meet the client’s needs. It is this, and a vast knowledge-base, that sets the firm apart from its competitor, with the experience of the A One Turning team being in excess of 50 years.

“Every project we have been involved in has been successful and this is determined by the positive feedback we continue to receive from our clients.

There is room for expansion within the precision engineering industry, and this is something that Mr Kundi is keen to explore.

“There are new projects that are being quoted constantly,” he says. “We would like to venture in to other market sectors that would require our assistance in development and manufacturing parts for their project, and this is something I think we will see coming to fruition”.

With regards to the future, Mr Kundi has a strategy for A One Turning to ensure its continued success for many more years to come.

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“Our overall aim is to keep on providing excellent service by assisting clients to help achieve their targets,” he says. “This can only be done by good communication between both parties. We listen and assist in what is required from us.

“Each and every day we look, listen and learn from our team and clients.”

Before he leaves us, Mr Kundi imparts one final nugget of wisdom by letting us in on his secret to success: “Quality before quantity is, and always will be, important for us. Our goal is to ensure that every client gets a complete and satisfactory service.”

Company: A One Turning Name: Harbinder Singh Kundi Email: sale.aoneturning@btconnect.com Address: 7 Holbrook Lane, Coventry, CV6 4AD. Telephone: 024 7668 6333 Fax: 024 7668 6222

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Special Feature

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Ones to Watch for 2016: Architecture

Unit 1 Architects are residential design architects that specialise in niche back-land property development on Brownfield land. Director Christian Pinchin provides us with an overview of the company and how it came to achieve its current level of success.

Unit 1 Architects offer development consultancy and can help any client, homeowner or developer achieve their dreams whilst maintaining their financial objectives. Christian outlines how the firm achieves this.

“Here at Unit 1 Architects we can assist people with early stage feasibility and profit analysis and can use our expertise to help clients and developers really define the best profit mix or outcome.”

“We use architecture as a tool to help people and property developers design the homes and spaces they really want. Whether it is a house renovation, dream house or a property development designed to maximise the best possible financial outcome, we can advise on the best route through the planning and building maze.”

Cozen’s Place is the firm’s most successful project to date. Unit 1 Architects had a close relationship with its client and partner Reve Developments for this project and the Interior Design input from Mimi Dietrich (Reve design director) was invaluable. Christian explains how a collaborative approach was key to the success of this project.

“Together with the team, we were able to transform this derelict and abandoned site into a high quality residential mews delivering three two bedroom houses on a small, constrained site. We recently won a London Evening Standard Home Award for Best Small Development and the project has also been shortlisted for the New London Architecture (NLA) Awards. It is a project we are all very proud of, it is fantastic that our combined efforts are being recognised.”

Collaboration is something Christian takes very seriously, and as such the firm regularly attend networking events, which open up many opportunities to speak with likeminded individuals and share the firm’s own knowledge and experiences, thus enriching the wider industry. Christian talks us through a particularly important upcoming event and why he believes that working with his industry peers is important to the survival and betterment of his own company.

“I will be speaking at the Blackfriars ‘Property Investor Network’ (PIN) evening in July, about our relationship with property developers & investors and how they can best work with Architects in order to be able to deliver truly exceptional property developments.

“Networking is so important because successful delivery of projects takes a special relationship between the following; clients, Architects, builders, developers and all of the supporting consultants to create wellcoordinated and profitable outcomes.”

As a final comment, Christian explains how the firm approaches design, and what he believes the future will hold for his firm and the wider industry.

“For me, architecture is and has always been in the details; at my practice, every design decision is evaluated and every design detail is intentional. There is great beauty in elegant and simple design. The most fundamental aspect, however, is embracing change and new technologies in order to be on the forefront of architecture.

“The world is constantly evolving with the advancement of technology and with the scale at which it is accelerating, if you do not move forward at the same pace, you are sure to stumble and fall so it is essential to keep yourself up to date and well informed in order to survive. I believe in change, because without it there is no progress and pioneering new technologies will help push the boundaries of architecture even further.”

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Company: Unit 1 Architects Name: Christian Pinchin Email: cp@unit1architects.com Web Address: www.unit1architects.com Address: 27 Holywell Row, London, EC2A 4JB Telephone: 0207 183 1456

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Special Feature

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2016 Infrastructure Innovator of the Year, the UK

Smart GreenTech Solutions is an independent energy management and sustainable design consultancy.

We interviewed Founder Pierre Olivier to learn more about the firm and the services it provides in this vital sector.

Smart GreenTech Solutions provide refurbishment and energy retrofit projects on commercial real estate, with a specific focus on serving the private sector, with clients ranging from independent schools and hotels to multi-site corporate clients.

of a large number of equipment suppliers and contractors, who simply sold clients significantly oversized systems which only benefited them, with the promise of over inflated returns to make the sale, which seldom materialised.

Pierre outlines the services the firm provides to these clients and how it aims to always offer a superior service.

“We have always been of the opinion that the bubble will burst, and have always approached projects from a sustainable engineering perspective to firstly reduce demand, followed by improving efficiency and only then integrate renewables. This approach not only significantly reduces energy consumption and associated costs, but also ensures that renewable systems are accurately matched to demand which deliver significantly better returns.

“I have been managing and delivering energy and carbon reduction projects for leading national and multi-national companies since the mid 90’s, and established Smart Greentech Solutions in 2011 with the key objective of establishing a competitive edge by listening to our clients, providing a personalised service, and consistently delivering on our promises.

“The key objective when we set-up Smart GreenTech Solutions was to establish a competitive edge by listening to our clients, providing a personalised service, and consistently delivering on our promises.

These are areas which our larger and more established competitors often overlook as a result of their multi layered structures and business models, and remain our core drivers.

“Therefore here at Smart GreenTech Solutions, we provide all aspects of energy efficiency, from waste to energy and renewable energy analysis, development and design, specialising in the optimisation and recommissioning of existing heating, cooling and ventilation systems.

“Our role is to partner with our clients from an early stage of a project to gain a thorough understanding of their requirements and what they want to achieve, in order to tailor the most appropriate solution which will not only satisfy their requirements, but also provide significant energy savings and on-going benefits.”

A key challenge, according to Pierre, has always been getting clients on board with reducing their energy consumption. He explains how Government initiatives have missed the mark in the past with regards to supporting consumers and the energy sector, and how his firm has worked hard to avoid these pitfalls.

“Getting clients excited about energy reduction projects have always been a challenge, and the introduction of FeedIn Tariffs and Renewable Heat Incentives in the UK has further compounded this problem. The problem was not with the incentives itself, but rather with the approach

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“I am of the opinion that energy reduction projects are slowly but surely starting to get the attention that it deserves, and client concerns about security of electricity supply, ongoing utility price increases, the P272 metering legislation and a range of other Government initiatives such as the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme etc. should further support the uptake of these projects.”

Looking to the future, Pierre offers his opinion on the industry at large and share the firm’s plans for growth within this market.

“Personally, it is my opinion that as an energy and engineering industry we have an obligation to ensure that we collectively act in the best interests of clients and sell projects on their total lifecycle costs and benefits, but this will unfortunately only be possible if we have a more regulated and professional industry, where the likes of CIBSE and the Energy Institute take a more leading role in training and certifying energy and engineering practitioners.

“With regards to our clients’, it is my hope that they start taking a longer term view, by not only focussing on initial costs but total life cycle costs and benefits, as this will enable them to make more informed choices.

“In order to support this ever growing industry, and address the issue staff shortages which are currently rife within the construction industry as a whole, Smart GreenTech Solutions are looking to grow our team of engineers by introducing graduate engineers and apprentices. This approach will ensure that innovative dialogue and thinking is stimulated and that we have a strong base on which to build our workforce.”

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Company: Smart GreenTech Solutions Website: www.smartgreentech-solutions.com

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Special Feature

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Hanson ServicesExcellence in Compliance Since 1947

Hanson Services offers the full complement of compliance services including air testing, SAP and EPC support as well as diamond drilling. Jamie explains how the firm seeks to support clients and ensure that they are fully compliant with energy regulations through every stage of their build.

“Here at Hanson Services we work with a wide variety of clients, from small house builders with one or two projects through to large corporations running vast construction sites. Our work is done on a national basis, and we assist with everything from a providing a full consultancy service throughout the build, to supporting clients with a single issue, such as EPC compliance on an extension.

Hanson Services Ltd is a family run, dynamic company offering air and sound solutions to the construction industry. We spoke to Jamie Lewis, Head of Business Development, to learn more about the services the firm offers.

“In order to ensure that clients get the most from our service we always start at the beginning, working with them to ensure that the project is SAP compliant as construction begins. This ensures that the foundations will be laid for compliance later with Energy Performance Certificates.”

What sets the firm apart from its competitors, according to Jamie, is its dedication to client service.

“We are unique because we offer a superior level of service to each and every one of our clients. From the start of a project through to completion, we work with clients, communicating with them regularly to ensure that every aspect of the build is progressing to their satisfaction.

“It is our mission to ensure that our clients enjoy working with us and would be willing to return. Our dedicated client service team is on hand to ensure that if a client has an issue or request it is dealt with promptly.

As a result of this approach we have good client retention, and rarely advertise our

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services, as the majority of our customers have either worked with us before or been referred to us by another satisfied client.”

The firm’s family business ethos is a key part of Hanson’s charm, according to Jamie, who provides us with a brief history of the company and the root of its dedication to excellence.

“We are a family of three Brothers, Mother and Father, with each family member playing a different role in the services that you see and also Cousins, Aunties and Uncles also involved in the business in various ways. This family core of the business gives us a unique advantage over our competition that our internal communication is superb as we understand and work with each other very well. Hanson Senior has installed lots of things in us as children; however, from a business perspective the key lesson we have been taught is to protect your reputation in the industry. Therefore, this means that we put the same effort in to every job we deliver regardless of the size, he was taught this by our Grandfather and this approach has meant that we are able to continue the family business 70 years on.”

For his final comment, Jamie explains that the firm has a number of projects in the pipeline that will enable it to grow whilst simultaneously retaining the quality of service which has become a hallmark for its success.

“Looking ahead, we are keen to work closely with our clients on increasingly larger projects in order to grow as a company. At the same time, we are keen to continue to offer the same high level of customer service which our clients have come to expect from us.”

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Company: Hanson Services Ltd Phone: 01763242114 Email: hansonservices.co.uk Website: www.hansonservices.co.uk

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With over 25 years experience in the industry we offer a comprehensive range of surfacing nationwide: • Play surfaces • Sports surfaces • Gravel surfaces • Structural surfaces DCM source premium materials for all products and directly employ highly trained installation experts who pride themselves on consistently providing the highest quality finishes.

All DCM installation teams are DBS checked and approved and hold CSCS cards.

To arrange a site visit, or for a quotation contact us today 01772 440340

CONSTRUCTION top 50

Arzum Group We spoke to Arzum Group Director, Mr Salah Kamel, who provided us with a powerful insight into his business and shared his strategy to achieve great success.

2016

BUILD Avalon Building and Decorating Contractors Ltd

Avalon prides itself on being London’s leading bespoke renovations specialist.

We spoke to Miroslav Bogdantsaliev to find out more.

DEVON CONTRACTORS Telephone: 01395 234280 Email: business.development@devoncontractors.co.uk Address: Clyst Court Hill, Barton Business Park, Exeter EX5 1SA, United Kingdom Website: www.devoncontractors.co.uk

AFIGLASS Telephone: +44 845.485.1080 Address: 161 Smith Street Poughkeepsie, NY 12601, USA Email: info@afiglass.com Website: www.afiglass.com

WATKIN JONES Telephone: +44 269.323.2022 Address: 4200 W. Centre Ave. Portage, MI 49024 Website: www.avbinc.com

BUIL CONSTRU

Top5

BUILDFIX Telephone: 0061 1300 854 115 or 0416 817 569 Address: 69 addison road, Manly, NSW 2095, Sydney Website: www.buildfix.com.au

LAYTON CONSTRUCTION

LD’S UCTION

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Telephone: +44 801 568-9090 Address: 9090 So. Sandy Parkway Sandy, UT 84070, USA Website: www.laytonconstruction.com

LEIGH SMALLWOOD Telephone: 01636 920783 Address: 13 Gaitskell Way, Balderton, Newark, Notts, NG24 3PL , UK Email: mail@leighsmallwood.com Website: www.leighsmallwood.com

AVB Telephone: +44 269.323.2022 Address: 4200 W. Centre Ave. Portage, MI 49024 Website: www.avbinc.com

ECODEK Telephone: +44 (0)1978 667 840 Email: enquiries@ecodek.co.uk Address: Unit 13, Abenbury Way Wrexham Industrial Estate, Wrexham, LL13 9UZ, United Kingdom Website: www.ecodek.co.uk

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2016 Construction Top 50 South East

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Build’s 2016 Construction Top 50

Arzum Group has rapidly become a household name in the design and build industry having gained an excellent reputation all over Berkshire.

The company is fast becoming an emerging name in the greater London area, making us recognisable in the south of England. I plan on continuing the success further into other regions of the UK to make Arzum Group a national name for all things design and build.

Currently we provide all services in-house to our clients, which enables us to produce a project from early stages of planning and design to completion, with 100% dedication and focus ensuring the client’s expectations are met and the service given is exceptional.

Arzum Group is a well-established design and building firm based in Langley, Slough. The firm has now been in business for over 10 years, offering a variety of services ranging from big projects such as complete refurbishment work and residential and commercial new build, to small jobs like kitchens, bathrooms installation, flooring and decorating. We spoke to the group’s Director, Mr Salah Kamel, who provided us with a powerful insight into his business and shared his strategy to achieve great success.

As well as smaller decorating jobs we specialise in construction projects including new build residential properties, loft conversions, and extensions.

In order to transform the client’s vision into a reality, we have a team of in-house architects who work with our clients delivering professional and expert service. This also helps clients save their time and money by not having to run by more than one business for planning approval if needed and helps the project run smoother with high standards of completion.

Having an in-house team of dedicated experts allows the company to interact with clients thoroughly, offering them a one-to-one service tailored to suit the requirements of their project.

Our team offer professional skill with a positive attitude: we always work with our clients as a team to meet their budget and to make their dream home a reality. With this principle, our business has been developing and expanding across the south of England, gaining new clients as we continue to build a reputable name in the industry.

To ensure success is maintained here at Arzum group, we take communication very seriously and make sure that the client’s needs are always listened and adhered to. Giving clients the opportunity to communicate any changes or requests directly rather than having to go through multiple contractors/firms makes the process a lot smoother and creates a positive outcome.

I believe it is imperative to bring together skilled individuals that are able to deliver independently and as part of a close knit team. Having the right attitude and approach to the business is crucial in being successful in this industry. Therefore

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collating a team of people who bring confidence and optimism to the company is essential in my perspective. I took my time sourcing out the right members of the company for each role.

I can proudly say we have developed a very professional and successful team of people that have been a part of this company for many years.

The beginning of 2016 has been an exciting time for the team at Arzum Group as we launched our much awaited sister company, Arzum Group Investment Limited (AGIL). This sister company specialises in property development and has also been featured in BBC One’s Homes Under the Hammer programme which is due to air on TV later this year. The TV show will feature our first project we have started through AGIL in Feltham, London, back in February 2016. This particular property was bought from an auction and we planned to completely refurbish the property for future investment. The in-house team at Arzum group carried out all the relevant work to make sure the property is complete to outstanding standards. Some of the work carried out included, central heating, re-wiring, new kitchen and bathroom, new flooring and a driveway.

Even though the finished project is our goal, the end result is not our exclusive priority, and as such we strive to provide our clients with the highest quality of service delivery, ensuring they are satisfied with not just the final outcome but also the different stages throughout the process, such as consultation, planning etc. We pride ourselves in delivering high standard results, not just with the building and designing aspect of the business but also the communication with our clients. When taking on a new bespoke project, we create a draft for the design phase of the project to ensure things run smoothly and if any changes or amendments need to be made we can then take a look and do that accordingly as and when.

The Construction industry is full of tough competition and challenges we face day to day as a company. Thankfully at Arzum Group we have not had to go through many difficult situations that have caused concern. However, when we are faced with a challenge or a concerning issue, we come together as a team and are able to overcome it and in turn become a better unit.

At Arzum Group we have invested in building a brand that is synonymous with brilliance and reliance. Having a successful working strategy

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has led me to expand my vision and develop the company profile to a higher level.

AGIL has recently purchased a plot of land in Reading which we as a team plan on using to construct a four bed semi-detached house to include in our portfolio of properties for AGIL. The property will be a modern structure with contemporary interior and will be up for sale by the end of 2016.

Other recent developments in the industry include the recent surge in demand and shortage for properties in the UK, especially residential properties. A lot of people are now looking to extend their properties through extensions or loft conversion to add an extra bedroom, as there is a shortage of living space.

Though this may be a problem for the public, but for our industry this is something that will help grow our business and branch the company name throughout England.

Overall I feel extremely honoured to have won Build’s 2016 Construction Top 50 Award as the competition is very strong in the industry and to be recognised is very rewarding. I feel we deserve to win this accolade because of our hard work and dedication in giving our clients excellent results each time. I believe achieving this merit will encourage myself and my team to perform better and keep up with the outstanding quality of work we provide to our clients. My aim now is to be consistent and try to exceed the level of service we provide as a team. I am very proud of my team who work extremely hard to keep our clients satisfied and make the company a success. This will support us to grow and provide us with more business opportunities; taking Arzum Group to new heights of success.

Mr Salah Kamel with the TV Presenter Lucy Alexander from Homes Under The Hummer at one of Arzum Group projects.

The new generation of design is now changing every few months as new innovative ideas and materials are being introduced into the building sector. This is something we as a business keep an eye on and try to keep up to date with so that we are fully aware of the current modern trends and changes in the industry.

There is a lot of demand for the services we offer as a company and see a lot of opportunity for growth within the industry. In order to achieve greater success in the future as a company, we must focus on building a bigger and stronger work team that will be able to take on more complicated projects efficiently. Providing outstanding service and immaculate results is something I take very seriously and will make sure that this is delivered to each and every client for the future prospects of the company. To make this a success it is important that we only employ the right professionals who are highly skilled, and are able to deliver the exceptional service we are known for at Arzum Group.

Company: Arzum Group Name: Salah Kamel Email: office@arzumgroup.com Web Address: www.arzumgroup.com Address: Arzum House, Langley Rd, Slough, Berkshire, SL3 7EF

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2016 Construction Top 50 UK

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Avalon prides itself on being London’s leading bespoke renovations specialist. We spoke to Miroslav Bogdantsaliev to find out more.

Avalon offer high-end D&B property Renovations and Refurbishments service.

With over ten years’ experience, the firm is able to offer everything from small jobs through to complete renovations projects.

These comprise of basement creating, extending, structural alterations and new build structures, high-end finishes applications, sophisticated mechanical and electrical installations, as well as AV, cinema and design lighting installations.

Miroslav explains that communicating with the client is vital in order to ensure the overall success of every project.

“Client’s individual preferences are very important, and as such we always try to exceed their expectations, and at the same time guide them through the Building Regulations and British Standards requirements to achieve their dream home or investment.

“With private clients, where the property is their home, it is of even greater importance that we understand their vision and ideas of how they want to create the home that meets their needs

and expectations. When working with corporate clients we always look into the best ways for increasing the quality and value of their investment property.

“Overall our client’s satisfaction is the main aim for us and this is the main strategy we follow and the results so far have been outstanding. Our clients know that we never compromise on the quality of the craftsmanship we provide them with, and we are good in communicating with the client, which makes our projects run smoothly and efficiently without misunderstandings.”

Alongside their work in renovations, Miroslav emphasised that the firm had the experience, knowledge and connections to support clients with a variety of property needs.

“We have sister companies in areas including property developing, property investing and cleaning. This experience and knowledge is passed on to our clients, and we are able to advise them on how to achieve their dream homes or what designs would most increase the

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value of their property or investment.”

Recently the firm has undertaken a number of exciting projects that Miroslav is particularly proud of.

“This year we have created an in-house basements excavations team which we are very proud of and are currently working on three projects including basements in Hampstead and Notting Hill.

“We have also started a joint-venture with a design and manufacturing company of high quality bespoke furniture and now have this in-house service to offer to our clients as well, which is an exciting development for the firm.”

Looking ahead, Miroslav emphasises that financial growth in the wider economy is providing more projects for Avalon.

“In the future we are keen to capitalise on the current economic stability and work with clients to create their dream home. We hope that this good fortune continues, and if it does we will be eager to work with more corporate clients.”

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Company: Avalon Building and Decorating Contractors Ltd Name: Miroslav Bogdantsaliev Email: miros@avalonbuild.co.uk Web Address: www.avalonbuild.co.uk

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Construction Top 50

Certass Limited Established in 2006, Certass Limited is a UKAS approved Certification Body providing certification for installation companies working in the RMI (repair, maintenance, improvement) construction section, for both domestic and non-domestic properties. We invited Jason Clemmit to provide us with an insight into the firm and how it diversifies itself in such a competitive industry.

Certass operates a number of certification schemes under its own accreditation as well as operating schemes that are under Government license, acting as a specialist in building fabric refurbishment for the RMI sector.

Certification is the provision by an independent body of written assurance (a certificate) that the product, service or system being assessed meets specific requirements. This can be a useful tool which adds credibility to the business demonstrating that their certified product or service meets the expectations of the certified company’s customers, meets regulatory requirements or industry’s best practice.”

Broadly speaking, I have been working and teaching in the RMI sector for the best part of 25 years and find the exchange of information-sharing invaluable to all involved. Throughout this time I have written presentations, guidance notes, technical manuals, teaching courses, industry specific qualifications and submitted documentation for Government review. Within the last few years, there have been many changes and challenges affecting Certification Body licence requirements and Building Regulation amendments that has necessitated our industry at wide to better communicate the challenges faced by all and minimise their impact. I have participated in Government working parties, workshops and forums to ensure that we as an industry are better equipped to deliver a service benefitting all. I arrange the Certass auditor training days which are often hosted

by UK leading systems companies and fabricators thus providing an environment where learning opportunities are combined and maximised for all involved, this is a great way for everyone to share what they know with each other and ensures no aspect of our industry is out of touch, from the manufacturer / supplier / installer relationship right along the chain to the homeowner.

Our approach at Certass has always been to ensure that we are delivering a fair, friendly and cost effective service to both the industry and consumers. We don’t use a ‘dry’ tick box approach like a lot of other certification bodies, as this can be really limiting. All our auditors are highly technically competent and the assessment process is a two way communicative process.

The three Government license certification schemes we provide are:

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•

•

•

A Competent Person Scheme, licensed by DCLG (Department of Communities and Local Government) A PAS2030 scheme for Energy Efficient measure installations, licensed

by DECC (Department for Energy and Climate Change) suitable for ECO funded work A Quality assurance scheme, TrustMark suitable for tradesmen working in the domestic RMI sector. TrustMark licensed by BIS (Department for Business, Innovation & Skills)

Alongside our Government licensed certification schemes, we also offer our own range of certifications which are designed to meet specific industry needs.

At Certass we decided to develop and provide our own skills assessment for site operatives registered with our certification schemes and where a formal qualification was not in place, we would carry out a technical competence assessment.

Upon a successful assessment, Certass then issue a free competence skills card for all assessed site operatives, this is a photo ID card which has a link back to our website where a consumer can independently verify that the skills card shown is genuine.

Through our own certification schemes, we also offer an exhaustive range of certifications for installation trades including glaziers’ repairs and new installations; roofline products and roofers; general builders and joiners; tiler; kitchen fitters; and fence installers, among others.

Whilst there are many established Certification Bodies, some much larger than us competing in the same sector, what sets Certass apart is its entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to always look at different ways to deliver an innovative quality service to our customers.

Simply put, we are an enthusiastic group of decent people who really do take pride in offering a good service at a really great value price. I believe that the key to our success is that key people within the Certass certification process are drawn from industry and therefore, they understand what our customers want. It is this grounding at Certass that lends its common sense approach so well to all the things we do at Certass.

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Ultimately, as a client led business our aim will always be to develop common sense solutions that are industry relevant and develop products that have been demanded by our industry whilst retaining our established reputation as the industry’s quality brand. The star of our strategies is our staff, as through them we have developed an innovative culture which is all underpinned by the people within our company being genuine people who really do want to deliver a great service. This is complimented by investments in both our IT platforms and the technical knowledge we have acquired since inception, all of which ensures our clients receive the best possible service, and moving forward we will continue to build upon this and offer as many certification opportunities demanded across various sectors within the construction industry as possible

Company: Certass Ltd Name: Jason Clemmit Email: jason.clemmit@certass.co.uk Web Address: www.certass.co.uk Address: Certass Ltd, Heathfield Industrial Estate, 4 Forbes Drive, Ayr, KA8 9FG Telephone: 01292 292099

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Construction Top 50

Keeping it Simple Finance

As our name suggests, here at Keeping It Simple Finance we like to keep things simple.

We specialise in providing bridging loans, development finance, buy to let and commercial mortgages.

We are conscious that the world of finance can be complicated, so our aim is to keep the whole process as simple as possible for our customers. This leads to a more efficient and informative process where ultimately better decisions and less mistakes are made.

Keeping It Simple Finance are independent commercial finance brokers, made up of a diverse team of professionals who all have considerable experience in the finance world. Holly Andrews provides us with an overview of the firm and its client friendly approach to finance.

Our industry has expanded significantly in recent years. Prior to the credit crunch if anyone needed a large short term loan they would visit their high street bank, where the vast majority of bridging loans were arranged. However, the recession meant that the high street banks stopped providing bridging loans.

Due to the then uncertainty in the finance world, together with low interest rates, investors viewed bridging finance positively because the returns were much better than other investment options (plus money was only out for short periods). This led to a growth in bridging loan providers, who in order to find business adapted to the demands of customers, filling part of a large demand gap.

Development finance was also difficult to obtain, but bridging loans became so flexible builders and developers could use them to fund projects. Bridging loans became a really useful funding option, in particular for property renovation, conversion and expansion projects.

The credit crunch and later new regulations meant that getting a mortgage became very difficult, in particular for first time buyers.

Being unable to get on the property ladder meant that more and more people had to rent, considerably increasing the demand for rental properties. Many of our clients would use bridging loans to purchase properties quickly at auction, or properties that were in a poor state of repair, which they would then do up and refinance with a buy to let mortgage.

Another popular option is buying large properties and turning them into flats. Bridging finance would help to fund the purchase and conversion work, then once completed buy to let mortgages would be put in place to repay the bridging finance.

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KIS Finance offers a unique approach to providing bridging loans, offering clients a clearly defined complete package which exactly meets their needs. Whenever we have a new enquiry we take the time to fully understand our client’s finance requirements, their current circumstances and future plans. Once we have established what finance is required we search for the lenders who are most likely to provide the best deal. We rarely talk to just one lender, the industry is very competitive so take full advantage of our independent status to negotiate the best possible finance facility for our clients.

We work hard to find our clients the best possible deal so that they can maximise the profit from their projects.

Many of our clients have used us more than once. This works really well for both our clients and ourselves! Because we already know their individual circumstances and understand their requirements they can quickly phone or email us anytime with just the details of any new project that they are considering. We can then quickly provide finance options, day or night, seven days per week.

In order to further enhance the customer experience we have recently added a development finance calculator to our website. This is the only online quotation system for development finance that provides instant results. It is a very useful tool because it helps builders and developers to determine the potential finance costs and profitability of a project. The calculator is really useful when comparing different options, such as would it be more beneficial to go with a plan that has a lower interest rate but a higher exit fee?

Users can even experiment by changing release dates for further fund releases to see how this effects interest rate charges.

Our stamp duty calculator works out stamp duty for all types of properties in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Again this was a first and we believe still the only calculator that allows for the different stamp duty rates depending where a property is and also for the property type – residential house, buy to let, second home or commercial property.

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The KIS Bridging Loan Calculator was the first online calculator to provide a more detailed breakdown of the different costs involved with bridging finance. We have recently made some more improvements, ensuring that it is once again the most functional one available.

Looking ahead, we feel that the main challenge for the future will be the result of the EU Referendum. With the lead up funding sources are already getting nervous and we are hearing stories from lenders who are starting to find it increasingly difficult to secure funds.

The UK economy has been improving, the fear is with many in the finance industry that a vote to leave will reverse this. Leaving will most probably mean a stronger pound, therefore more imports, a rise in interest rates to curb the purchase of cheap imports and less investment into the country.

Developers and builders who are already struggling to find skilled labour believe that this will be made worse by a vote to leave. A shortage of labour will mean projects will take longer or may even be cancelled, and therefore we anticipate a number of exciting opportunities, both for ourselves and the industry at large, as we adapt to the referendum results.

Company: KIS Finance Website: www.kisbridgingloans.co.uk

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Jensen Underground Utilities, Inc. Serving SW Florida’s underground construction needs Services offered ranges from water, sewer, drainage and firelines to total sitework packages.

www.jensenunderground.com kevin@jensenunderground.com 239.597.0060

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Inside the Industry

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Bluesky’s 3D laser maps inform BIM projects D models produced from aircraft mounted lasers are being used by survey company Greenhatch Group to help inform a range of Building Information Modelling (BIM) projects. Downloaded from aerial mapping company Bluesky’s online Mapshop (www.blueskymapshop.com), the highly accurate and detailed models are utilised within the Group’s BIM software from Autodesk, providing real world context to measured survey and laser scanned data. The Bluesky height (LiDAR) data also gives Greenhatch up to date and accurate information for areas that may be inaccessible or otherwise out of bounds.

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“The Bluesky photogrammetric models are invaluable when integrated alongside models produced on the ground from either traditional survey techniques or, more recently, terrestrial laser scanners,” commented Stuart Chadwick, BIM Manager at Derby based Greenhatch Group. “The data provides context for buildings we have surveyed and modelled, and gives us data for areas we have not been able to access.”

Greenhatch Group is a well-established survey practice with nearly thirty years’ experience in completing topographical, building, engineering and utility surveys across a range of industry sectors. Greenhatch utilises the very latest surveying technology to ensure highly efficient workflows whilst ensuring data quality and accuracy for its high profile clients, including English Heritage and Historic Scotland, for example. Greenhatch Group was also an early adopter of BIM, defined as a process involving the generation and management of digital representations of physical and functional characteristics of places, and described by the UK Government as ‘the first truly global digital construction technology’.

The datasets used by Greenhatch Group are purchased from Bluesky’s online Mapshop, which offers complete nationwide coverage of aerial photography from multiple epochs, 3D models (Digital Terrain and Surface Models DTM / DSM), LiDAR data, Thermal Mapping and the National Tree Map™. Visitors to the Bluesky Mapshop can also download free of charge geological, land cover and flood maps, as well as places of interest, census areas and collections of themed data such as farming, marine and habitats.

“The service we received from Bluesky, both online – via the Mapshop and offline – via more traditional channels, has been first class,” continued Chadwick. “They are prompt in response to any queries or requests, very competitive and the turn around on orders is fast.”

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Company: Greenhatch Group Email: admin@greenhatch-group.co.uk Web Address: www.greenhatch-group.co.uk Address: Rowan House, Duffield Road Little Eaton, Derby, DE21 5DR Telephone: 01332 830044 01332 830066

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Building information modelling – James Kelway et me take you back to the 1998 Egan Report, which was about ‘rethinking construction’ by improving quality and efficiency. This report was written 18 years ago and yet in my opinion the topics, drivers and ambitions are the same for the UK construction industry then as they are today. The report set out five key drivers for change which were to set the agenda for the construction industry at large: committed leadership, a focus on the customer, integrated processes and teams, a quality driven agenda and commitment to people. For me the term ‘integrated processes’ is still a work in progress. Though each of the drivers merit their own article, I would like to focus on ‘integrated processes’.

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Egan used this term to explain that it is a process that utilises the full construction team, bringing the skills of all the participants to bear on delivering value to the client. It is a process that is explicit and transparent, and therefore easily understood by the participants and their clients.

That’s a great driver, but how did our industry respond? Well, there were a number of approaches and concepts that were identified, developed, introduced and tested to provide solutions, which in time led to a Government term ‘integrated practice’ in construction. This was a response to reduce the fragmented nature of our industry through partnering and frameworks, etc. Ironically, this approach already existed as early as the 1970s, however it was never recognised as a robust tool to provide this type of approach until the early noughties in the UK.

Today, we might best recognise integrated practice as BIM or Building Information Modelling. This is an approach to design, construction, and facility management in which a digital representation of the building process is used to facilitate the exchange and interoperability of information in digital.

It requires a different way of thinking and working with a shared information format.

However, in the new build private sector the adoption of this different way of thinking and working on projects is still a hit and miss affair. Some clients still view the BIM process as nothing more than an unnecessary cost premium that protracts the design programme. Yet, there are some clients who instead see the numerous benefits BIM can offer and are prepared to deliver their developments in this way for both themselves and their customers, but to what end?

A recent example was in the delivery of DP World London Gateway’s Logistics Centre by Savills New Build Project Management team, where BIM was used from start to finish. By undertaking the design process in this way, the whole design and project team were able to provide a higher integration of all the different design packages involved, allowing clashes to be identified earlier, which resulted in minimal changes and a far smoother construction phase.

This isn’t however, where it ends. The data rich BIM model can also be used in the operational phase of a building for owners and occupiers alike. DP World Estate’s team now use the BIM data in the management and maintenance of their building. Their facilities team are able to access data to provide accurate information on maintenance regimes and output data on the life cycle of equipment and assets. This in turn informs DP World’s planned preventative maintenance budgeting for their building.

More and more people are starting to see the benefits, so much so that the RICS has recently launched a BIM Manager certification which is seeing the first wave of Chartered Surveyors using BIM in cost and project management. This is responding to the UK Government’s construction strategy that requires all centrally procured public procurement projects to be built using level 2 BIM by 2016. Large scale infrastructure projects, such as HS2 are now taking BIM from 3D to 5D, by adding cost and time into the BIM process.

The Egan Report and the government strategy is really about the industry working smarter. Those in the industry who have embraced BIM see the wider value add. Those clients who will hold their assets once developed can use BIM to inform decisions based on long term performance and how that can be optimised rather than look at the most economic solution.

We’re seeing an increasing number of consultants and designing contractors with BIM capability. However, in the new build private sector, BIM is not yet business as usual though the future is definitely digital.

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Eco Building

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Tropicana Eco Homes Staying true to its mission to build a sustainable and vibrant community, property developer Tropicana Corporation Berhad (“Tropicana”) has entered into a strategic collaboration with PanaHome Malaysia Sdn Bhd (“PanaHome Malaysia”), a local subsidiary of PanaHome Corporation based in Japan, to build 272 semidetached innovative eco homes at its latest township, Tropicana Aman. The unveiling of Cheria Residences, the third phase of the residential precinct at the 863-acre Tropicana Aman marked the first collaboration between both companies.

Incorporated since 1979, Tropicana is the pioneer of resort-themed developments, with over 42 completed and 16 ongoing developments across Malaysia. Established since 1963, PanaHome has built a total of about 470,000 residences in Japan over the past 50 years. Cheria Residences is a brainchild of both companies, embracing innovative design and concepts that are fitted with Japan intelligent construction technology that aim to improve the quality of lives.

The signing ceremony marked another important milestone for the Group and was witnessed by Mr Yasuteru Fujii, Corporate Advisor of Panasonic & PanaHome Corporation. Tropicana was represented by Dato’ Yau Kok Seng, Group CEO and Dato’ Dickson Tan, Deputy Group CEO; whilst PanaHome was represented by Mr Kenji Koyama, Executive Officer and Mr Haruhiko Kuwano, Managing Director of PanaHome Malaysia.

Speaking at the event, Dato’ Yau Kok Seng said that Tropicana has always been working in sync with the pulse of the local communities to enrich lives and improve the ecosystem. “Building innovative intelligent homes with PanaHome is a sign of our commitment to not just creating harmonious partnerships for the benefit of our customers but ultimately, to also create an ideal and vibrant township that is sustainable and holistic in nature. Going forward, Tropicana plans to build more sustainable homes in each of its townships.”

Dato’ Yau added, “Tropicana Aman is set to be an idyllic place where one can slow down, breathe in the fresh air, find the balance in life and live in a walk and bike-friendly environment. PanaHome Malaysia aims to make a difference by creating an “EcoNation” where one can work, live and play in a healthy environment. We share the same vision to create a better community with our future smart homes and thus, this is a very strategic partnership”.

Speaking on behalf of PanaHome Malaysia, Mr Haruhiko Kuwano said, “With Tropicana’s vision to redefine the art of living and its commitment to building luxurious, resortthemed developments, I believe together, we can create a more vibrant township in Tropicana Aman. The synergy between Tropicana’s master-planning and PanaHome’s Japan intelligent construction technology

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will definitely add more value to Cheria Residences precinct at Tropicana Aman”.

The newly unveiled Cheria Residences is expected to launch in mid-July 2016 and expected to complete in 2019.

Seated on a lush 38.5 acres land, the capacious double-storey semi-detached homes boast 3,200 to 3,670 square feet with wide car porch that could fit three cars side-by-side. Future residents of this gated and guarded precinct will also enjoy their own private 4.73-acre central park and linear garden, 3-km pedestrian and jogging track and a dedicated community hall.

On the innovative and Japanesequality technologies front, each Cheria Residence is designed to be energy efficient and environmentally-friendly.

Construction methods utilising reinforced concrete panel technology ensure high and consistent quality building structure.

PanaHome also offers air ventilation and heat insulation technology that supplies effective flow and circulation of natural cool air whilst at the same time, minimises the heat transmission from the ceiling unlike the issue faced in conventional buildings. The unique PanaHome’s PURETECH structured embedded ventilation system filters out dust and air pollutants and the special filter can remove up to more than 95% of harmful air particles. The thermal heat insulation materials will be incorporated behind the ceiling to help to reduce heat conduction to keep the living space naturally cool and clean for the inhabitants without the need for excessive air-conditioning, hence reducing energy consumption.

On the scope of fitted electronics equipment and security front, PanaHome will incorporate the video intercom and home network system to deter crime.

With the built-in video intercom, residents will be able to see the face of their visitors without the need of opening the door.

The Panasonic security systems are connected to the smartphone to monitor the status of your home remotely even when you are out of the house.

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Real Estate

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Real Estate

Building expertise in challenging environments

By Sinead Hughes, Director, Grove Developments (Arora Group).

Faced with either: a dense network of services cables; a warren of underground high-speed train tunnels; a steady stream of traffic; and airport health and safety regulations - or a site of highly-contaminated ground; an expansive concrete dry dock; and the risk of outing the power at internationally-acclaimed pop musicians’ concerts - neither site sounds an obvious or easy target for constructing premium properties.

Nonetheless, these are just two examples of the sites where Arora Group has succeeded in end-to-end delivery, with Grove Developments executing the construction; the Sofitel-T5 hotel, directly connected to Terminal 5 at London Heathrow, and the InterContinental London – The O2 and residential Arora Tower, connected to the O2 arena, Greenwich. Both of these, I’m delighted to say, have been great successes, of which we are immensely proud.

At Grove Development, we specialise in commercial, residential and hospitality construction projects, as a division of the Arora Group.

The Group is a UK-focused private group of companies, which also includes specialist property and hotel divisions, with a diverse portfolio of flagship commercial and residential assets across the nation’s key business locations.

Since our inception as Grove Developments in 2011 (formerly Arora Developments), we’ve worked on over 32 projects, and as you can imagine, like any construction firm, we’ve faced our fair share of obstacles along the way. As Director at Grove, I’ve worked through highs and lows, and am delighted with our progress to date.

Facing up to the challenges of construction is all about: understanding the needs of the end-user, and those that you’re working with; drawing learnings from previous and ongoing projects to improve future work; and ensuring ongoing collaboration and team-work to boost the team’s sense-of purpose and increase efficiency.

As one of the key property managers and hotel operators in the Heathrow region, and with experience in other airports such as Gatwick and Aberdeen, we are well-versed in the challenges faced when building on or near an airport.

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Crucially, this requires close-partnership with the airport operator, considering our impact on multiple teams involved - in air traffic control, roads, and services for example - which each entail important regulations and processes.

Another consideration is the navigation of the many services and existing media under the construction site. Airport areas are incredibly dense, with a mass of people reliant on these services – and a construction group arrives to ‘put a big hole in the ground’.

Similarly, we need to work around the transport infrastructure, in terms of roads, tube and high-speed rail lines running to airports. Increasingly, I have also become aware of how important it is to do the above with consideration of how the construction appears to current passengers, who may also be potential hotel guests.

Ultimately, in these sorts of challenging sites, the more expertise you develop, the better you are positioned to offer excellence. You learn how best to adapt your project whilst keeping to the remit - for instance through shifting working hours or building dimensions. You also become more aware of opportunities – for example, the constant regeneration of airports means there is a large pool of expert workers in the area.

It is also important to work with trusted partners and to share knowledge where possible; for Grove Development, we value Arora Group’s property and management teams’ insights on end-user needs – in this case, the hotel guests and broader airport stakeholders.

Interestingly, we find that even when building in entirely different environments, we face similar challenges – and it is vital to leverage this experience to succeed. So, as with building near airport terminals, when constructing the InterContinental London – The O2, we faced a complex underground environment, and the need to work collaboratively with other stakeholders.

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Building very closely to the O2 Arena and the Blackwall tunnel transport hub necessitated close liaison with the O2 Arena’s site-team and TFL, to avoid infringing on their services. Given East London’s history as a site of river-travel and as the energy hub of London, we had to locate and work around a vast concrete drydock and Thames-wall wire strains, and work collaboratively with the Environmental Agency to approach the existing ground contamination from electricity, diesel and oil deposits.

Intercontinental London – The O2

A specific learning from building near the O2 is that it’s wonderful to have a neighbour who knows exactly what they’re doing and when, so you can pre-plan effectively. We had to divert the O2 Arena’s services but with our usual conscientious approach to the project and the O2’s helpful site-team, this all went smoothly.

I’ve laid out the basis of particular challenges that construction can present, and how a certain mind-set can help to build further expertise. Looking at how this translates into particular project-management styles we have found particular success with “Lean Construction”, which was introduced during a particularly challenging time-frame.

In practice, Lean Construction embraces collaborative planning processes via regular workshops, gathering the right people together, identifying which resources (both human and material) are required for each job, in what order, and for how long, and making sure there is a constant line of communication and an understanding of the broader project timeline and aims.

Ultimately, it brings the discipline and order of a factory onto the construction site, to deliver better value to clients and end-users. I highly recommend this approach, and Grove has invested in these philosophies, having proven its worth and we are rolling this process out and training up the broader team in these methods.

Overall, construction presents multiple challenges, however there are a number of strategies I can recommend to overcome and benefit from these, which the Arora Group – and Grove Development – champions. Firstly, working closely with stakeholders to best service the end-user; secondly, drawing links and learnings from broader projects to understand how to approach specific requirements; and finally, ensuring ongoing collaboration and team-work to align goals and drive success.

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Real Estate

Southwark Council completes over 100 new council homes this summer as part of 11,000 new homes pledge A London council is tackling the housing crisis head on by pledging to build 11,000 new council homes over the next 30 years, with the first 1,500 completed by 2018.

The south London borough of Southwark is facing an unprecedented demand for genuinely affordable, housing. With around 13,000 people on its housing waiting list, and estimates that the local population is set to grow by 50,000 by 2030, Southwark Council is taking a proactive measure to increase housing now.

The council opened the first of its new homes in Bermondsey last year, providing 21 council homes and a further 54 temporary accommodation units. This summer another 113 council homes, built through the council’s Direct Delivery programme, will be ready to take on new tenants. These include several larger family homes and 42 Extra Care homes in Peckham.

Apart from the Extra Care homes, at least 50% of new council homes will be offered at local lettings, meaning existing tenants in housing need on neighbouring estates will have a chance to bid for a new home. The council has also bought the 24 affordable homes at a new development at Surrey Docks that will be offered at council rent this summer.

Whilst providing new homes is the main focus, Southwark is also determined that quality and space are also a key factor. The council is the first to launch its own Design Guide laying down a series of 15 design values for consultants and contractors working on new council homes to follow. The guide will ensure the most generous standards on space, light, sound-proofing and energy efficiency as well as taking the council’s commitment to tenure blind housing beyond avoiding ‘poor doors’ to cover internal circulation and communal areas and the council hopes it will kick start a new race to the top in housing design amongst other house-builders.

Councillor Mark Williams, cabinet member for regeneration and new homes at Southwark Council, said: “This building programme is one of the most ambitious in the UK and we are determined to lead the way in London, through building more homes of every kind and using every tool we have to increase the supply of homes in the borough.

“In Southwark we have some specific housing challenges, primarily linked to the fact that demand outstrips supply. It’s fantastic that people want to live in Southwark, and it’s not surprising given its rich heritage, cultural diversity, and the exciting regeneration going on all over the borough. But with thousands of families on the waiting list for a council property, it was clear that we needed to do something innovative to help meet demand.”

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Southwark took the decision to increase its housing stock after consulting residents about proposals for the future of council housing and carefully analysing its finances.

Cllr Williams added: “I can’t overstate the significance of this decision. As the country struggles with a huge housing shortage, Southwark is leading the way in finding a solution. As a council we are passionately committed to helping the most vulnerable in society, and that is why we need council housing above all else.”

Of course, a range of different types of homes are needed in Southwark and the council is working with private developers and housing associations to ensure that new housing springs up across the borough, particularly in major regeneration and opportunity areas like Elephant and Castle, Peckham, Old Kent road and Canada Water. For its new council housing Southwark is taking a number of approaches to build the new council homes its residents said they need. As well as its own Direct Delivery programme that is building the first wave of homes using in-fill developments on existing estates, the council is also actively seeking two developers to work with as part of its Southwark Regeneration in Partnership Programme to develop land owned by the council. Further council homes will be either created by buying up the affordable homes element of other sites such as the Surrey Docks development and a further 56 homes in Blackfriars that will be completed next year, or through a Hidden Homes programme to convert disused spaces on estates like old laundry rooms, roof spaces and community spaces, into new homes.

“Our vision for housing in Southwark in 30 years time is of a place where you will not know whether you are looking at privately owned or council housing where the quality of our council homes rivals or exceeds those produced for private sale,” Cllr Williams concluded, “and where those properties are managed and maintained either by their residents, or the council, or by a combination of both – but always with the agreement and support of their residents.

“I hope other councils will look at our plans and consider joining Southwark in reversing the trend to move away from council housing, and start building now for a fairer future for all.”

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As high-rise residential developments reach new heights, what have we learned from the failed tower-block?

As a new generation of towers go up, this time labelled luxury apartments rather than tower-blocks, Ramboll Residential Team Director Tom Shaw asks how the industry is working to prevent history repeating itself.

As the demand for affordable homes increases, London’s skyline has become an ever-changing landscape. The need to maximise available space has led to developers and housing associations alike opting for high-rise residential developments, while the NLA reported in March this year that in London 233 high-rise buildings have planning permission and a further 114 towers are at planning or pre-application stage – 73% of which specify a primary residential use.

Yet the drive to build up is not a modern phenomenon. Many will remember a similar home-building drive in the post-war era of the 50s and 60s, in which tower-blocks rose up across the country. The development of new building technology in the form of pre-cast concrete frames meant that high-rises were seen as a quick and affordable way to provide much needed public housing. It is this period of construction that led to the term ‘concrete jungle’, as complex and interconnected towers with a myriad of enclosed corridors grew up to house a booming population.

However, as the phenomena reached its peak, awareness began to grow of the multitude of social issues emerging within these communities in the sky; including social alienation, mental health difficulties, and rising crime levels. The infamous collapse of Ronan Point in 1968 marked the U-turn in public attitude towards the tower-block and a significant shift in design and building regulations (including the requirement to design against disproportionate collapse). The 1972 oil crisis led to a further change in building regulation and the thermal regulation of tower-blocks. Concrete cladding now also had to insulate and the concept of the facade was born, which essentially wrapped the buildings in cotton wool and regulated heat loss. This meant the towers of the 60s quickly became outdated and ill favoured, plagued as they were by cold, damp, and draughts. Many early high-rise towers have since been demolished with the phrase ‘tower-block’ almost a dirty word in the residential sector.

So as a multitude of multi-storey buildings shoot up across the UK, what moves have been made to ensure history will not repeat itself and that we will not be building slums of the future?

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Fundamentally, towers need to be in the right location, look good and be built well. Amenities and local infrastructure, including particularly good public transport links, are a key component to delivering happy residents and achieving high densities. Not all early towers were universally disliked and both the Barbican and Trellick Tower continue to be regarded as design icons. Good design, like good art, sparks debate and a tower should contribute to the sky-line.

These days, concerns around structural safety do not even enter the public consciousness, thanks to ever increasing advancements in the quality of materials, improved design codes and lessons learnt from across the globe.

New technologies are also pushing the boundaries in sustainable design and reducing embodied carbon from the use of post-tensioned or precast concrete to the ever increasing use of cross-laminated timber in medium-rise schemes.

Future proofing is now in-built within most projects with provisions incorporated for changes in trends and use. Homes are being made adaptable in terms of space and configuration, as well as the integration of various automation requirements and digital technologies that may control our homes in years to come.

Vertical transportation is critical for highrise and in historically was a key concern where lifts were often out of service resulting in the climbing of many flights of stairs. Lifts are now faster, far more reliable and are often fitted out to act as a seamless extension of the well-designed lobbies that they connect.

Façade treatment now has to be well considered, not only from a thermal and waterproofing view but also a maintenance perspective. In the past cladding on many towers has not been maintained which has led to many of the highlighted issues. Today we design in façade access for maintenance and/or make use of durable materials that require minimal maintenance.

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Outdoor space is now recognised as an essential part of successful communities – encouraging both social development and healthier lifestyles. Podium roof gardens and shared terraces provide landscaped communal areas that allow for socialising with neighbours, children’s play, and even for budding gardeners to plant their own fruit and vegetables. As the trend for large apartment blocks grow, we are seeing ever more careful consideration for the space and public realm that surrounds these buildings, especially where high-rise towers are being built as part of a wider development or regeneration scheme. Gone are the days of isolated towers in the middle of poorly designed open spaces and car parking, and in are well integrated and landscaped public spaces that encourage use by all.

For high-rise developments, ownership of the semi-public/private spaces is critical for good security. Ensuring that the lobby, stairwells and communal spaces are well designed and maintained restricts the opportunity for and permissibility of anti-social behaviour. Increasingly the services of a concierge or security guards are employed in entrance lobbies, providing a sign-in service, monitoring CCTV, significantly cutting the incidences of crime and vastly improving the sense of security and community amongst residents. Retail and communal facilities at ground level can also create an active frontage, natural surveillance and deliver better facilities for residents.

Not only has a concern for the health and well-being of residents shaped new high-rise schemes, but also the wider understanding of how a sense of community is powerful both in encouraging a greater up-take of units and ensuring a lower level of population churn.

Studies have shown that the more neighbours you know in your building the more likely you are to renew your tenancy. Consequently, the Build-to-Rent sector is leading the way in integrating design measures that foster a sense of community and greater rental yields.

The post-war tower blocks may hold a turbulent legacy, but it is one that runs through the designs of today and ensures that, instead of destroying communities, we are building them.

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Real Estate

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Real Estate

Denver ranked best city for tech professionals City comes top of 2016 Homes.com New Tech City Index.

Denver (CO) has been named the best city to live in for tech professionals according to a new ranking of emerging US tech hubs.

The city ranked 1st out of over 365 cities analyzed as part of the Homes.com New Tech City Index. Cities were ranked using factors including average wage in the sector, industry employment in the city and the average house price for those looking to move there.

“Many areas exist outside of the Bay Area and the Pacific Northwest where tech folks can find both their dream job and the home of their dreams,” says Grant Simmons, VP at Homes.com. “Cities like Denver not only offer tech-focused career opportunities, but also more bang for their housing buck, great schools, and lifestyle options that suit both small-town and big-city appetites.”

A combination of a high average wage across the industry ($91,861), steady industry employment levels (3.8/1000 jobs in the tech sector) and a booming housing market which has seen house prices rocket in the past 5 years (+41.29% over 5 years), helped Denver beat off stiff competition from across the country.

The Massachusetts town of Framingham, with a population of under 70,000, came in a surprising second, perhaps in part due to tech giants like Bose setting up bases in the town. In third, proximity to more traditional tech hubs like San Jose and San Francisco, inevitably make California’s Oakland (CA) a tempting prospect for many tech professionals.

The index also ranked: - Columbus (OH) as the most affordable place to live if working in technology with an average house price of just $107,367 - Oakland (CA) as seeing the biggest growth in house prices amongst emerging tech hub areas, +47.61% in the past 5 years - Framingham (MA) as having the highest average wage across the industry in our top 20 ($106,850).

“Many areas exist outside of the Bay Area and the Pacific Northwest where tech folks can find both their dream job and the home of their dreams,” says Grant Simmons, VP at Homes.com, “Cities like Denver not only offer tech-focused career opportunities, but also more bang for their housing buck, great schools, and lifestyle options that suit both small-town and big-city appetites.”

For the full Homes.com New Tech City Index, including tables and graphics, visit our blog at http://www.homes.com/ real-estate/local-market-report/homescom-new-tech-city-index-2016/

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Architecture

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Molofunctional prototypes made of Kebony at Venice Biennale TYIN Tegnestue demonstrate design process behind Norwegian breakwater.

YIN tegnestue architects have exhibited plans and prototypes made of Kebony for their latest design at this year’s Venice Biennale which was held in May. The project, Molofunctional, will improve the facilities for travellers visiting Scandinavia and local inhabitants alike, with additional meeting places, a bathroom and new viewpoints, all placed on a beautiful breakwater on Norway’s northern coastline. The TYIN team were the only team from Scandinavia at the event and were chosen from 176 participants in a competition held by the National Tourist Routes, with building of the scheme due to commence this year.

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One of the winning characteristics of the project for the National Tourist Routes judges was the ethos of the designers. They drew inspiration from their extensive travels throughout the world where they experienced a return to functional architecture in places such as Thailand, Burma, Bangkok, Haiti and Sumatra. These experiences have informed their work wherein they incorporate functional and beautiful elements side by side.

TYIN Tegnestue exhibited their Molofunctional project during the Biennale, in Venice with the aim of demonstrating the architectural process. In order to effectively display the creative method of the design the architects believed they had to go beyond purely visual elements and sketches, and consequently

focused on producing 1:1 scale prototypes and models to show how the scheme will be delivered. The Venice Biennale is one of the most prestigious architectural events in Europe, steeped in artistic and avant-garde history, and as such the architects were keen to make their prototypes both beautiful and forward thinking.

The architects intended to balance manmade and natural elements in their design, making use of eco-friendly materials such as Kebony, the sustainable alternative to tropical hardwood, alongside innovative engineering methods. Having worked with Kebony on a number of previous projects, including the Naust på Aure boathouse and Fordypningsrommet – the world’s most northern artist retreat, the architects were well aware of the benefits of using the material. The exposed location of Senja, situated on Norway’s northern coastline, meant that a strong and highly resistant timber was required; as such Kebony was chosen when the architects were creating prototypes for the breakwater primarily for its durability and resistance to weathering.

Yashar Hanstad, architect at TYIN tegnestue commented “We’re incredibly excited to have been chosen to exhibit at the Venice Biennale; it’s one of the most respected events in architecture and a wonderful achievement for the team. We are also really happy to be working with Kebony on another project. The strength and beauty of the wood gives us freedom in our design to create something both striking and long lasting.”

Mette Valen, team leader at Kebony Norway added “TYIN tegnestue has a fantastic team which pushes the boundaries of innovation and clever design thinking in their work. We are thrilled that Kebony has been chosen for their prototypes and look forward to working together on many more projects in the future.”

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Construction

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Construction

Can the construction industry afford to continue to be so exclusive?

Professor Linda Clarke, Director of the Centre for the Study of the Production of the Built Environment (ProBE) at Westminster Business School, University of Westminster.

The latest figures for the recruitment of first year ‘craft’ construction trainees provide a shocking indictment of the industry and of the vocational education and training (VET) system in Britain. This sector was once, next to engineering, one of the key industries in which apprenticeship flourished, underpinned by a statutory levy-grant mechanism and regulation through the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).

However, in 2005/6, out of the 38,447 first year construction ‘craft’ trainees, only just over half were involved in work based training of some sort and the remainder were on full- or part-time courses in Further Education (FE) colleges; only 10,308 were following an apprenticeship programme, mainly at National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 2, with far higher proportions to be found in the north of the country than the south.

Ten years later, in 2015, and despite all the efforts by government to promote apprenticeships, first year construction trainee numbers in Britain had fallen to a historical low, with 11,586 to be found training in the same occupations, only 35% of whom were undertaking some kind of work-based training and only about 3,000 following an apprenticeship programme. In an industry employing nearly two million, this represents less than two apprentices for every 1,000 workers, compared to over 40 per thousand in Germany, where they are all at the equivalent of Level 3. To compensate for this training deficit, construction employers in Britain have increasingly come to rely on recruiting workers trained in other countries, so ‘poaching’ from VET systems elsewhere. At the same time, 36% of employers in a 2013 survey of 809 construction firms reported hard-to-fill vacancies, while only 14% offered apprenticeships, symbolising what might be regarded as employer disengagement in VET. One reason for this calamitous situation is the exclusive character of the industry, which considerably limits the recruitment pool. There has been little change since the 1980s in the proportion of women working in construction (less than 1% in the manual trades), whilst the proportion of those from Black and Asian ethnic minority (BAME) groups (only 2% of construction workforce and 3.4% of managers) has if anything fallen. Furthermore, the High Court proceedings on blacklisting revealed a number of large construction firms have been actively seeking to exclude trade

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unionists since the 1970s. These court proceedings follow the discovery in 2009 by the Information Commissioner’s Office of 3,123 individual files of mainly constructions workers, held by the Consulting Association, which acted as a covert vetting service funded by amongst others AMEC, Balfour Beatty, BAM, Carillion, Costain, Laing O’Rourke, Vinci and, above all, Sir Robert McAlpine. Can the industry any longer afford to be so cavalier with its workforce and disregard what were genuine grievances and attempts to improve its employment and working conditions?

Another reason for the training collapse is these very same employment conditions, above all the Construction Industry Scheme, which represents a special tax status or employment subsidy for those who are ‘self’ rather than ‘directly’ employed, which almost half (924,000) of the two million strong workforce belong to. Added to this, 91% of the 251,647 firms in the industry employed less than 13 employees in 2014 and over 50% under three employees, whilst an unknown number come under agencies and the larger firms have anyway long ceased to employ operatives.

This hardly provides an appropriate training infrastructure for young people, especially given the considerable health and safety risks on construction sites.

However, it is all too easy to blame the industry, when it has been successive governments since the 1980s that have failed to curb the decline in training and productivity, continuing to insist on an employer-led VET model.

Symptomatic of this is the Board of the CITB, which has been transformed from an original tripartite body in the 1960s to one which today contains no single employee representative and only one independent FE college member.

Why is it assumed that VET is the sole responsibility of the employers especially when most of the little training that now takes place is based in colleges? The existing and future workforce depends for its livelihood on the development of knowledge, skills and abilities that will be of value in the long-term over working life, while the construction labour process itself has become more complex and demanding of a high level of abstract

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abilities best developed in the classroom or workshop. Surely all stakeholders should be involved in the transformation of the VET system, including employee and employer representatives, colleges and the government, as in most leading European countries, including France, Germany, and the Scandinavian countries?

In the 1970s an important role played by the government in addressing economic decline was through the National Economic Development Council, supported by the National Economic Development Office (NEDO), one of whose subsidiary organisations was concerned with the construction and engineering construction sectors. This was abandoned by the Thatcher government and finally abolished in 1992, though its equivalent continues to exist at European Union level in the Economic and Social Committee, an advisory assembly composed of “social partners”, namely employers’ organisations and trade unions and representatives of various other interests - including from the UK. Isn’t it now time that the UK state, together with construction employers, construction trade unions and educational institutions, and working with bodies in the European Union, took more initiative? The construction sector needs to transform itself from a business that excludes trade unionists, women, those from BAME groups and young people to become an inclusive, productive and energy efficient industry with a highly qualified, directly employed workforce.

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Construction

Five in demand construction roles facing skills shortages Five of the most in demand roles within the construction industry are all suffering from skills shortages, according to a study by One Way Resourcing.

The quarterly analysis by the construction and rail recruitment specialist outlined five of the most sought after roles across the construction, civil engineering and housebuilding fields. The sector, which is already facing significant shortages, is likely to be stretched to full capacity as a result of the need for affordable housing, infrastructure, as well as demand for other types of property, in particular student accommodation.

Mike Ward, Director at One Way Resourcing, outlined the in demand positions: - Quantity Surveyors – “There’s a significant shortage of expertise in this field and the diminishing availability of professionals, for various reasons, has left a real dearth of talent on the permanent side. The position is critical to any project, particularly at a time when firms are looking to increase their margins and efficient cost planning and commercial management can make all the difference.”

- Design / Technical Managers – “These professionals manage the flow of information and communication across all project associated parties and play a truly pivotal, quarterback-type role in the coordination of the design, pre construction and delivery stages of projects. Again, they’re critical to any project from both a communications and interface perspective and, consequently, it’s particularly concerning that there’s such a shortage of professionals available in the current market.”

- Estimators – “There was already a real shortage of professional estimators before the uplift in construction output in 2015 and now the dearth of talent is on the verge of holding up a number of projects. Quite simply, more work means fewer available estimators as builders look to improve their margins by finding ways to accurately gauge costs in line with specifications for materials, labour and equipment. The role hasn’t changed much, but the technology these professionals use

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has progressed a long way from the days of scribbling on a piece of paper.

Consequently, anyone looking to secure an estimator role needs to have at least some level of technological knowledge.”

- Planners – “This has been a notoriously high-demand low-supply role for a number of years now with a recognised shortage in both the public and private sectors. The role is similar to that of an estimator in many ways and involves the designation of technology and the assignment of specific tasks to different areas of the workforce. A good planner is absolutely critical for developing a budget and work schedule and, like the other roles mentioned here, any further shortages could have a real impact on productivity. Outside of technical competencies, a good planner must also be able to make organisational decisions and manage relationships between various suppliers and sub-contractors.”

- Site Engineers – “There are few truly outstanding site engineers readily available in the market and there’s been such strong demand in recent times that many Assistant Engineers or Chainmen have been thrust into the lime light too early, and don’t really have the experience or technical knowledge to carry out the role competently. With the emphasis on “building up” and not “out”, we’ve seen a real shortage in sound Reinforced Concrete Frame Site Engineers.”

One Way would be very interested in expanding this idea into a wider feature. If you would be interested in commissioning an article that focuses on the specific skill sets that are be in demand, where this demand stems from and what professionals need to keep in mind when applying for positions, please get in contact with Bruce Callander – bruce@bluesky-pr.com – 01582 790090

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Products and Innovation

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The future of city planning: Intelligent street furniture For an urban space to thrive it must keep up with the times, adopting the most innovative technology to stay relevant and attractive to businesses and newcomers. Cities which stay abreast of the latest developments in environmental planning are the ones that have happier, more productive populations.

complacency is the enemy of the ambitious city.

The objects that furniture our city streets are an important part of this ongoing revolution.

Street signs, advertising hoardings, bus stops, litter bins, bollards, telephone exchange boxes, benches and traffic lights are all categorised as street furniture and are revolutionising the way planners and citizens view a city.

Pioneering firms have had the foresight to understand how the ever-quickening pace of technological advancement will inevitably come to redefine how we think of everything from public litter bins and street lighting to bollards and information boards. It’s now up to pioneering planners to decide when, where and which of this technology to include into their cities and for what purpose.

There are many different intelligent street furniture options, and many more to come in the near future.

They serve a key purpose in our cities, and are designed to give every citizen a positive experience, and to help them navigate this space effectively.

The most powerful aspect of intelligent street furniture at the moment is the support offered to a variety of individual groups.

The Loci range, currently provided by construction specialists Marshalls (www. marshalls.co.uk/commercial), uses cuttingedge M-Live technology to respond to individual citizen’s needs as they come into range. Our cities are currently designed to fit as many individual needs as possible into one space. As there are different groups and needs, it’s difficult to always match everyone’s requirements. For example, having lots of seating areas is great for the elderly who may require frequent breaks, but can prove an additional challenge for the visually impaired who would benefit from fewer obstacles to manoeuvre.

To put this into more context, the Loci Intelligent Lantern will burn brighter for the visually impaired or anyone else who requires extra light. This function is triggered by keyfobs carried, as well as Smartphones after initial sign-up for this support. The M-Live technology can also be applied to traffic lights enabling those who require a little extra time to cross the street due to age or disability to trigger the green man to remain on for an extended period thereby giving them the time to cross safely.

These benefits may seem like a small addition for someone not part of the vulnerable group, but can mean a less stressful, less exerting and far more positive experience for the groups who benefit from this.

The power of city data As discussed by the BBC, the most progressive cities are beginning to see intelligent street furniture as a tool for two-way dialogue with their citizens.

An urban population is no longer passive, moving through spaces designed according to someone else’s ideas about what will work best.

Instead, data on the way people use and adapt to the city streets and the objects they encounter will be recorded and will impact how those same streets are developed.

Some intelligent street furniture works by collecting large quantities of data, which can be utilised in a number of ways. For example, London’s street furniture collects information for the 500 datasets published online and updates in real-time, telling citizens everything from how far away the bus is to how heavy air pollution is.

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Products & Innovation

For city planners and their teams, the improved efficiencies and money saving measures are of great interest. Data collecting sensors collate valuable information into one central online portal, which can then be used to plan and adapt to a more cost-effective approach. One instance of sensors saving a city hard cash came in Philadelphia where they were placed on public litter bins.

The data collected told the city that the bins were being emptied too frequently compared to actual usage and so litter collection shifts were reduced accordingly. As well as saving cash, this initiative also meant there were around a third fewer bin lorries doing the rounds, thus reducing both urban congestion and traffic emissions.

While much of the thinking around making our cities smarter has been inspired by technological advancements, some of it was commercially driven and has been adapted to fit municipal needs.

For example, in Paris advertising space specialists developed a number of new platforms to sell to private firms. A concept bus shelter with phone-charging points, free Wi-Fi and protection from the elements also had a huge display that was ideal for touting products to a ‘captive’ audience.

However, that same screen is also ideal for giving tourists and locals alike new insight into the city around them, feeding through information on everything from history to expected bus arrival times, upcoming cultural events to the localised weather forecast.

The cities of our not-too-distant future will be places where technology, intelligent design and populations work together as a united force. The free passage of information from street furniture to citizen to city planner and architect will come to completely redefine both the fabric of our urban spaces and the way we work and live within them. As well as creating improved spaces for societies’ most vulnerable demographics, this revolution in how we expect our streets to interact with us as city dwellers will change urban living for the better, for us all.

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Be part of the one of the UK’s leading areas of economic growth and development The Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire area boasts one of the fastest growing economies in the region. Now’s your chance to be part of its exciting future as the second most influential powerhouse in the South of England.

Property developers, businesses and residential buyers continue to see Milton Keynes as a prime location to live, work and invest due to its:

Superior infrastructure with easily accessible amenities Well-designed road systems and easy access to the M1 and London Affordable new homes and development opportunities Working on behalf of Developers, Builders, Investors, Land and Property Owners, The Wilkinson Partnership is helping to shape Milton Keynes’ future by sourcing potential development sites, negotiating with planning authorities and effectively marketing rural property and land and more.

For detailed information on how we can also help you become part of the second Capital of the South’s future, please contact us today.

Leighton Buzzard

Winslow

01525 851616

01296 712717

lbres@qualityhomes.co.uk winres@qualityhomes.co.uk